Marlene Garcia-Esperat

Responding to reports that a local court in the Philippines has ordered the arrest of Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, the alleged masterminds in the 2005 killing of investigative journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat, a day after murder charges were filed against them, we issued the following statement…

In the Philippines today, the news that charges have been brought against the alleged masterminds in the murder of Philippine journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat is running in many of the country’s major news outlets. 

New York, October 20, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is heartened to learn that murder charges were filed today in the 2005 slaying of investigative reporter Marlene Garcia-Esperat in the Philippines.

In response to reports that murder charges have been filed against the alleged masterminds in the 2005 killing of Philippine journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat before a local court in Mindanao, we issued this statement today …

Dear Chief Justice Puno, The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the recent ruling of a Cebu Court of Appeals to indefinitely suspend the murder trial of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. The two suspects, Osmeña Montañer and Estrella Sabay, face allegations of plotting the March 24, 2005, murder.

Philippines: New York, May 21, 2008 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by delays in the trial of two government officials accused of ordering the 2005 murder of columnist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. The trial has been brought to an indefinite halt because of questions surrounding jurisdiction.

Dear Chief Justice Puno, The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about recent maneuvers to delay the ongoing murder trial of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. As you are aware, the assassins in this case, Estanislao Bismanos, Gerry Cabayag, and Randy Grecia, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison on October 6, 2006.

New York, March 7, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the surrender of a suspect to police in the 2004 murder of Filipino broadcaster Herson Hinolan, but is concerned that the move comes shortly after the withdrawal of an important prosecution witness from the case. Alfredo Arcenio, a former mayor of the town of Lezo,…

Dear General Razon: The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the arrest warrants issued for two suspects in the 2005 murder of journalist Marlene Garcia-Esperat. This is a significant step forward for the Philippines, where no mastermind has been convicted in the killing of a journalist since CPJ began documenting journalist deaths in 1992.

By Christiane AmanpourMurder is a terrifying reality for independent journalists around the world. A group or government embarrassed by a critical report hires a gunman rather than a lawyer to silence the messenger. More than 60 journalists were killed for their work in 2007, the second-deadliest year for the press that CPJ has ever documented.